View full sizeAP Photo/Brian BlancoWei-Yin Chen was the difference for the Orioles on Saturday

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Wei-Yin Chen has put together a pair of strong performances.

Chen allowed five hits in seven innings, Chris Davis had two RBIs, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-0 on Saturday.

"Chen was the story," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.

Chen
(10-6) struck out four and walked one, improving to 4-1 in his past six
road starts. After Pedro Strop gave up a single in the eighth, closer
Jim Johnson pitched the ninth in a non-save situation to complete a
six-hitter.

"I feel good today," Chen said through a translator.
"Especially, (catcher Matt) Wieters gave me a really good target. I just
hit the target."

Chen was coming off a start last Sunday where he struck out 12 in 5 2-3 innings of a 6-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

"Five
three-ball counts in two games ... he made a lot of quality pitches,"
Showalter said. "He's got a good understanding of what's going on up
here at this level right now, and we hope to ride it."

The Orioles
took a 4-0 lead on Davis' two-run single in the fourth off Jeremy
Hellickson (6-7). Davis has driven in 12 runs during a nine-game hitting
streak.

Hellickson lasted just four innings, allowing four runs and eight hits. The right-hander struck out four and walked four.

"I just couldn't make a big pitch when I needed to," Hellickson said.

Wieters put the Orioles ahead 1-0 on a first-inning RBI single. Baltimore had gone 0 for 22 with runners in scoring position in its previous two games.

"It's
nice to be able to get a hit and RBI, especially when runs can be at a
premium," Wieters said. "Try and take the lead early and make it stand
up."

Nick Markakis made it 2-0 with a run-scoring single in the
second. He drove in Nate McLouth, who had a leadoff double. McLouth had
his contract purchased from Triple-A Norfolk before the game.

Tampa Bay had two on with one out in the fourth, but Chen struck out Carlos Pena and got a foul pop fly from Sean Rodriguez.

Wieters
walked and swiped second for his second stolen base of the game and
third this season with two outs in the third. He was thrown out by right
fielder Sam Fuld attempting to score on Wilson Betemit's single.

Notes:
Showalter said season-ending surgery performed on 2B Brian Roberts to
repair a torn labrum in his right hip went well and that the infielder
could ready for spring training next year. ... Tampa Bay 3B Evan
Longoria, out since May 1 because of a partially torn left hamstring,
will be evaluated Monday. Rays manager Joe Maddon has not ruled out
Longoria rejoining the team during a three-game series against Toronto
that starts on Tuesday. ... Baltimore RHP Jason Hammel (right knee)
could resume throwing off a mound in about 10 days. ... To make room on
the roster for McLouth, the Orioles designated OF Endy Chavez for assignment.

Related Stories

Featured Story

Get 'Today's Front Page' in your inbox

This newsletter is sent every morning at 6 a.m. and includes the morning's top stories, a full list of obituaries, links to comics and puzzles and the most recent news, sports and entertainment headlines.

optionalCheck here if you do not want to receive additional email offers and information.See our privacy policy

Thank you for signing up for 'Today's Front Page'

To view and subscribe to any of our other newsletters, please click here.